Matty Healy of the 1975 apologizes for comments about misogyny in rap: 'I’m sorry if I sounded like the poster boy for both male and white privilege'

Matty Healy, the frontman of the 1975, is apologizing for comments he made about misogyny in hip-hop.

The singer shared a portion of his interview with the Fader, in which he was asked about drugs in the music industry and the overdose death of rapper Lil Peep. His response was: “One of the problems is the youth of hip-hop. At the moment, with Soundcloud rap, it’s become a bit of a drug-taking competition, and that happened in rock ’n’ roll,” said Healy, who has been candid about his own heroin addiction. “Those things get weeded out the longer those things exist. The reason misogyny doesn’t happen in rock ’n’ roll anymore is because it’s a vocabulary that existed for so long is that it got weeded out. It still exists in hip-hop because [the genre] is so young, but it’ll stop. That’s why you have this moment with young black men — Kanye-aged men, as well — talking about their relationship with themselves, which is a big step forward for hip-hop. Drake, for example. But then they’ll be like, ‘But I still got bitches’. The scene’s relationship with women hasn’t caught up to its relationship with itself, but that’s something that will happen.”

Matty Healy of the British rock band the 1975 is clarifying some of his comments about misogyny in rock ’n’ roll vs hip-hop. (Photo: Roberto Ricciuti/WireImage)

But in a series of tweets, Healy both apologized — saying the comments, specifically about misogyny in rap “reads as patronizing, uninformed and reductive” — and also claimed to be misquoted.

This bit of me talking in an interview reads as patronising, uninformed and reductive. And to be fair it is. And I’d like to apologise….(thread) pic.twitter.com/UMO62lzVgn

He clarified that what he said was that “misogyny wasn’t ALLOWED in rock ’n’ roll” today the way it is in hip-hop. Though he said it still exists. He said he failed by trying to simplify a complex issue “without the right amount of education on the subject.” He said that he should never try to “figure stuff out’ in public by talking about it in an interview because he ends up “trivializing the complexities of such enormous, experienced issues.”

What I said isn’t correct. And it’s not all a misquote. Just for clarity I said that misogyny wasn’t ALLOWED in rock and roll now days in a way it is in hip hop – not that it doesn’t exist, that’s maybe a misquote as I’m aware of the misogyny in rocknroll…

think cos I’m so actively trying to support women(not a brag but with the record label etc)I kinda forget that im not very educated on feminism and misogyny and I cant just ‘figure stuff out’ in public and end up trivialising the complexities of such enormous, experienced issues

Healy later tweeted to clarify that he wasn’t apologizing for the misquoted part.

Just to clarify I’m not apologising for saying ‘rock music is void of misogyny’. I didn’t say that. Any body who says that is not only thick as fuck they most probably don’t have physical eyes. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard

I’m apologising for the fact my words could INSINUATE that misogyny in culture and music is an exclusively hip hop (black) issue. I do not believe that. What I believe is that I’m not educated enough to speak on THAT properly and a big part of that is this white dick that I have

He also responded to some fan comments about his apology-clarification. To one person who applauded him for owning up to his mistakes, he said was sorry “if I sounded like the poster boy for both male and white privilege.”

I’m currently reading (on recommendation) ‘When Chicken Heads Come Home To Roost’ by Joan Morgan – (a woman of colour). Kind of The only relevant perspective on the matter. I’m sorry if I sounded like the poster boy for both male and white privilege in that quote!! ❤️❤️

It was a misquote I said that is wasn’t allowed or permitted in the music. I’m sure Larry would back me up that I was not saying ‘there’s no more misogyny in ‘rock music’. I mean look at emo!? Honestly I would never say that it’s been misinterpreted ❤️